Review – KIMI

KIMI  (2022)
R ‧ Thriller/Crime‧ 2 hours 29 minutes

Written by  David Koepp. 

Directed by ‎Steven Soderbergh

THE CAST

 Zoë Kravitz and Rita Wilson.

THE STORY

A tech worker with agoraphobia discovers recorded evidence of a violent crime, but is met with resistance when she tries to report it. Seeking justice, she must do the thing she fears the most: she must leave her apartment.

THE REVIEW

On paper, KIMI seems like it would make for a great thriller. A modern day thriller using an “Alexa” type device called “KIMI”, Angela, is a tech worker for the device who overhears an apparent assault crime while monitoring streams. Now she is pushing her bosses to get the police involved while her bosses try to silence her and keep the event out of the public eye. 

It felt like this could be a new The Net with Sandra Bullock, but it falls so short of that.  Kimi continually sets up interesting elements of the story and then tells them in the most boring way possible. People are wearing masks and Angela seems to have developed agoraphobia from the Covid pandemic, but we don’t really explore that much. The KIMI device raising some questions about privacy in our ever-increasing digital world, and yet not much of any eyebrows are being raised. Angela is suffering from agoraphobia as a probable result of the lockdown, but it isn’t really explored deeply. 

The villains of the film….meh.  Connection to the characters…zilch. 

The setting of the film, beautiful Seattle is one of the treats. The other is watching the very talented Zoe Kravitz attempt to defy such an uninteresting script. 

THE BEST
Three BEST things about the film

  1. Zoe Kravitz does a very nice job in the role.
  2. Interesting concept.
  3. Takes place in Seattle.

THE WORST

The three WORST things about the Film

  1. For a thriller it lacked ‘thrills.”
  2. Huge missed opportunity to make statement on these AI type devices
  3. Lacked connection with characters.

THE LESSON

Smart devices are used to make life more convenient, but it can’t help write a script.

THE FINAL WORD

Alexa, find something else for me to watch. 

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

KIMI gets a Lose It

THE TRAILER

ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.

Review – Moonfall

Moonfall  (2022)

Review by Silas Lindenstein


PG-13 ‧ Scifi ‧ 2 hours 4 Minutes

Written by Roland Emmerich & Harald Kloser & Spenser Cohen

Directed by ‎Roland Emmerich

THE CAST

Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, John Bradley, Michael Peña,
Charlie Plummer, Kelly Yu, Eme Ikwuakor, Carolina Bartczak, and Donald
Sutherland

THE STORY

In Moonfall, a mysterious force knocks the Moon from its orbit around Earth and sends it hurtling on a collision course with life as we know it. With mere weeks before impact and the world on the brink of annihilation, NASA executive and former astronaut Jo Fowler (Academy Award® winner Halle Berry) is convinced she has the key to saving us all – but only one astronaut from her past, Brian Harper (Patrick Wilson, “Midway”) and a conspiracy theorist K.C. Houseman (John Bradley, “Game of Thrones”) believes her. These unlikely heroes will mount an impossible last-ditch mission into space, leaving behind everyone they love, only to find out that our Moon is not what we think it is.   

THE REVIEW

Wow.

The visuals are jaw dropping, the story is ridiculous, and the acting is shameful, yet somehow I left the theater smiling ear to ear from utter enjoyment of one of the most epic disaster movies I’ve ever seen. Is it a “good film”? No. Is it a fun film to watch? “Hell yeah!”

I’ve always had a love of disaster films, from the old Earthquake films to modern epic disasters like 2012. I want a ludicrous plot, played for with absolute conviction. There are many times in the film that what’s happening on screen makes absolutely no sense, but it’s enjoyable watching the actors try and get out of the contrived situation.

For all of the special effects and disasters happening as a result of the moon changing orbit, Moonfall does sneak in a message about trusting technology that is being built to help us.

Moonfall works well as a disaster film because it embraces the ridiculousness of it. If anything the first two acts of the film were too mild compared to the final act of the film.

Moonfall partially works because of all the surprises, so I don’t want to ruin anything here other than the main plot above. The makers have set up a potential huge world building. I fear audiences won’t appreciate this film enough for it to continue past one film, but I will hope.

If you’ve seen the trailer for Moonfall and said “That looks stupid,” you probably shouldn’t go, because you’re right and you won’t enjoy it. If you’ve seen the trailer and said “that looks ridiculous, I have to see it,” you will love the film.

You will get out of the film what you put into it.

THE BEST
Three BEST things about the film

  1. The special effects. Simply amazing effects that really helped tell the story. Though at one point, I swear I thought they were using models.
  2. The world building. Can’t say much on this….but man, the possibilities.
  3. The sheer volume of epic disasters. Disaster after disaster….Moonfall had a windfall of disasters to watch.

THE WORST

The three WORST things about the Film

  1. The acting. They said all the correct lines in the right order, but that’s the best I can say for it. I can’t be sure they did more than one take on most scenes. Actors were pretty flat.
  2. It does hit a level of ridiculousness that is hard to stay with. Do not try to understand an ounce of the physics laws of the film.
  3. Stock characters galore. At times I felt like I could have won a “Stock Character Bingo.”

THE LESSON

Despite the topsy-turvy, crazy rollercoaster of a movie that it is, Moonfall does have a message beneath it. Be careful of the tech we are creating. Little conveniences can become monstrous problems.

THE FINAL WORD

This film was everything that I could have hoped for from an epic disaster film. Leave your brains at home and grab some popcorn and go enjoy.

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

Moonfall gets a Like It.

Here is the trailer for Moonfall:

ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.

Review: The Tender Bar

Tender Bar Review (2021)

R ‧ Coming of Age Drama ‧ 1 hour 46 minutes

Directed by George Clooney
Screenplay by William Monahan

Based on The Tender Bar by J. R. Moehringer

Review by Silas Lindenstein

THE CAST

Ben Affleck as Uncle Charlie
Tye Sheridan as J. R. Moehringer
Lily Rabe as Dorothy Moehringer
Christopher Lloyd as Grandpa
Daniel Ranieri as Young J. R. Moehringer
Rhenzy Feliz as Wesley
Briana Middleton as Sidney
Max Casella as Chief

THE STORY

Set in 1970s Long Island,[2] 9-year-old J. R. Maguire and his mother Dorothy move back in with his grandparents following her breakup with his father. There, he forms a bond with his Uncle Charlie, the owner of a local bar. Charlie acts as a surrogate father to J. R. and encourages him in his pursuit of becoming a successful writer. Charlie’s mother is determined that he will go to Yale or Harvard and become a lawyer.

THE REVIEW

Watching The Tender Bar is like getting a big hug from an Aunt you like. It’s a comforting hug. It feels nice because it’s familiar. It isn’t the best hug, you’ve had hugs like this before, and you’ll have them again. It’s nothing special, but it’s nice. 

The Tender Bar is ripe with the nostalgia you expect from a coming of age story.  A lot of it is familiar, even if you can’t place it exactly; the boy who wishes his Dad was around, and gets more love from his Uncle and his friends than he ever could from his Dad. Dreaming of a better life when they get older and getting to see the slow crawl toward that something better. 

So the story is okay. The premise is alright. The acting….that’s where this film really shines. Ben Affleck is really great as Uncle Charlie, the “smarter than everyone else in the room Uncle” who owns a bar called The Dickens. Affleck is so natural and speaks and matches the tone of film just perfectly. He’s charming, funny, kind, and empathetic. He’s the uncle we all want and he plays it with very little effort. 

Our main character is split into two actors, the young  J. R. Moehringer played by Daniel Ranieri  and the older JR played by Tye Sheridan. Both do an exceptionally well job portraying the lead character, their innocence while marching forward in life is very relatable, slightly awkward, and fun. 

The other well done aspect of the film is the direction. The tone of the film is hit just right by director George Clooney. He does an excellent job of directing really solid moments of the film that engage you with the characters and make you root for them. He also has impeccable comic timing and makes sure that the comedy in the film runs through without being over the top or out of tone with the rest of the film. 

What stops the film from being truly great is that there is nothing new or overwhelmingly moving about the film. There isn’t a stand out scene that blows you away. It’s a solid film, but one that doesn’t make you feel like you are

seeing something incredibly special. 

THE BEST

Three BEST things about the film

  1. Ben Affleck – Golden Globe Nomination and my pick
  2. Skillful Direction
  3. Story  Well adapted from the book

THE WORST

The three WORST things about the Film

  1. Can feel slow at times
  2. Story jumps from little kid to young man quickly. 
  3. Nothing New to the story. Coming of age story is now when I was coming of age. This makes me feel old

THE LESSON

Everyone needs an Uncle Charlie.

THE FINAL WORD

You don’t watch this kind of film because you want to learn more about humanity, you watch it because of the comfort that nostalgia allows. You watch it because you are finally seeing your generations growing up on the big screen. You watch it because it will give you warm feels and you don’t risk a lot.

Will you laugh?

Yes, at times. 

THE VERDICT

My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

The Tender Bar gets a Like It

The Tender Bar is available to watch for free on Amazon Prime with membership.

ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.

Review: Licorice Pizza

Licorice Pizza (2021)


R ‧ Comedy Drama /Coming of Age ‧ 133 Minutes

Written by Paul Thomas Anderson

Directed by ‎Paul Thomas Anderson

Review by Silas Lindenstein

THE CAST

Alana Haim; Cooper Hoffman; Sean Penn; Tom Waits; Bradley Cooper; Benny Safdie

THE STORY

The story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine growing up, running around and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973.

THE REVIEW


Some of the best films are just a simple premise done really well. To a degree, this is what makes Licorice Pizza such a good film. It’s probably in my top ten films of 2021. Well acted, great writing, funny, and a story that compels you to keep watching to see what happens next. 

A coming of age story set in the 1970s southern California area.  It’s the tale of a 15 year old entrepreneurial boy Gary (Cooper Hoffman) and his unlikely (and at times inappropriate) relationship with a 25 year old woman, Alana (Alana Haim) he meets at his school’s picture day. Their relationship strengthens as they become partners in Gary’s business and they satisfy each of their needs. Gary’s need to have something to yearn for, and Alana’s need to have the attention of someone and a potential opportunity to escape from her redundant existence. 

Cooper Hoffman is the son of the late great actor Seymour Hoffman, this is his first feature film lead and he handles it like he’s been doing it for ages. His tone is effective and right for the character throughout. Very believable as a boy searching to find the next quick buck while he yearns for an older woman that won’t let them be together.

Cooper would probably be getting more recognition for his performance if he wasn’t playing opposite Alana Haim, who delivers one of the best performances of the year. She’s a very authentic actress. She exposes herself and wrestles with her dilemmas so we can share them with her. The chemistry between Alana and Cooper as actors elevates the script so that we can understand the complicated relationship between Gary and Alana. 

The production of the film is nearly flawless. The only major thing is within the storyline itself. I had trouble rooting for the leads to get to get together because of the age difference. Ten years isn’t a deal breaker, unless one of the parties is under 18, then it’s a little creepy. 

THE BEST

Three BEST things about the film

  1. Alana Haim’s performance. Honest, passionate, and authentic. 
  2. The writing, it’s believable, turns out it is based on a real guy.
  3. The cameos; Bradley Cooper and Sean Penn make you howl.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

  1. There’s really only one thing that bothered me about the film, and that’s the age difference. While it’s not clear exactly how long the film takes over, as the film develops and feelings between the characters, we have to remember that Alana is an adult and Gary, however mature he seems at times, is still a kid. The relationship isn’t appropriate and if the genders were reversed, this film wouldn’t be celebrated.

THE LESSON

You don’t need attention as much as you need appreciation. 

THE FINAL WORD

A solid film from top to bottom. Expect high praise from this film now, and extraordinary work in the future from the lead actors. Licorice Pizza is a film you need to take a bite out of. 

THE VERDICT

My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

Licorice Pizza gets a Love It.


ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.

Review: The Power Of The Dog

The Power of the Dog  (2021)

R ‧ Drama/western ‧ 2h 6 m

Written by Jane Campion

Directed by ‎Jane Campion

Review By Silas Lindenstein

THE CAST

THE STORY

(In their own words) Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love.

THE REVIEW

The Power of The Dog is an incredibly well-crafted film. The cinematography is at times breathtaking, not just in the gorgeous views it shows of the landscape (it’s supposed to take place in Montana but budget constraints had it filmed in Australia), but because the cinematography really helped tell the story. The actors are first rate; Kirsten Dunst has completed transformed from her early work to such a strong, powerful actress. In this case, showing a woman being slowly broken by the constant badgering of a brother-in-law, Phil Burbank played by Benedict Cumberbatch. Always a good actor, Cumberbatch plays the badgering bully of his brother and his family. He really showcases the nuances to this complex, powerful and unlikeable character.

Though despite the great artistry of acting and production design, I couldn’t help but be completely bored through the first 30-40 minutes of the film. Were it not for needing to review it, I would have shut it off. Which, would have made me miss the surprising turn the film takes in the last third of story. While it seems to be a slice of life film to start, it turns into a little bit more……not exactly a thriller…but not everything is as it seems.

While the last part of the movie saved me from boredom I couldn’t see myself watching this film a second time. It’s just too slow without enough of a payoff. .

THE BEST

The BEST things about the film:

  1. The cinematography.
  2. Unexpected direction.
  3. The craftsmanship of this film.
  4. The acting by Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst is incredible.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film:

  1. So slow.
  2. First 40 minutes are really, really boring.
  3. Unrelatable.

THE LESSON

Be kind, because you just don’t know. 

THE FINAL WORD

One of the most beautiful films that has ever bored me. 

THE VERDICT

My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

Like it for craftsmanship.

Lose it for entertainment.

ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.